Rufous-tailed Hawk
Buteo ventralis
Scarce and often rather local hawk of temperate rainforest and edge, adjacent open and semiopen areas. Looks similar to the Red-tailed Hawk of North America. Hunts from perches, less often in flight. Light morph has dark leading edge to underwing; adult has diagnostic rusty tail with narrow dark bars. Rare dark morph has dark body plumage, adult tail washed grayish; immature has broader, blunter wings than very similar dark-morph immature of Variable Hawk.
Identification
The rufous-tailed hawk is similar to the red-tailed hawk. It was first recorded by Charles Darwin in Patagonia while on his voyage of the Beagle. The rufous-tailed hawk is a medium-sized hawk with a wing span of 45–60 cm. The overall size range of the hawk is 54–60 cm. There are two different colorations of the rufous-tailed hawk. The more common pale version of the hawk has a blackish brown upper parts, with a darker cap and cinnamon feathers along the side of the head and neck. The belly is white with dark markings and reddish brown coloration on it. The dark version is basically all black with whitish edging on the feathers. The call of the rufous-tailed hawk sounds like kee-ahrr.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Buteo ventralis
- Authority
- Gould, 1837
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Buteo
Range and habitat
The rufous-tailed hawk has been spotted living in a number of different habitat types, including evergreen beech forest, mature forest and new growth forest that have been burned over, and finally in open country. The best theory for their ideal habitat was developed by Figueroa et al. (2000), Trejo et al. (2006), and Rivas et al. (2009), who all suggested that rufous-tailed hawks' ideal habitat is somewhere with high trees near open areas that are good for hunting for prey. So far, there have been no reports of the rufous-tailed hawk living in human areas like cities or abandoned buildings.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Radde's Warbler
Phylloscopus schwarzi
Small, chunky songbird. Brown overall with a pale throat, thick pinkish bill, and a black-bordered white supercilium that is buff-tinged in front. The smaller Dusky Warbler has brownish tinge toward the back of the brow. The similar Yellow-streaked Warbler is a grayer shade of brown, has a clean white supercilium, and has different vocalizations. Favors open taiga forest and forest edge for breeding, often in wet brushy thickets or along streams. Sings from both exposed and hidden perches, giving a ringing trill with several variations. Difficult to detect on the wintering grounds, where it skulks in dense vegetation in both wet and dry areas; listen for its frequently repeated “chuk” and “pit” calls.
Spotted Owlet
Athene brama
A small uncrested owl with a round head and a short tail. It is grayish-brown overall with white spots above while its underparts are white with brown bars. Note the distinctive white eyebrows and neck-band. Often active at dawn and dusk when it utters a loud “chirurr-chirurr-chirurr” laugh in addition to a variety of high-pitched squeals and whistles. Inhabits all kinds of open habitats but avoids dense forest and wetter regions.
Black-faced Apalis
Apalis personata
Black-hooded, green-backed apalis with a white spot on the side of the neck. Found in montane forest of the Albertine Rift. Usually in pairs, which will join mixed-species flocks. An active species that prefers the upper half of the forest, though it will sometimes feed lower. Gives a rattling, repeated three-part call, and also a quick trill. Very similar to Masked Apalis, but has a mostly black head and a white dot rather than a stripe on the side of the neck, and is found at higher elevations.
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